Can't send or receive email in outlook.com

Unable to Send or Receive Email in Outlook.com? Here's a Troubleshooting Guide and Updated 2025

Outlook.com is one of the most utilized email services; it works well with Microsoft 365, calendars, and other productivity tools. However, users quite often find themselves in a situation where they either cannot send or receive emails. This can be very frustrating, especially if you use Outlook.com for work or personal communication. In this article, we shall look at the general causes that may lead to these problems, step-by-step troubleshooting solutions, and also look at some frequently asked questions on how to solve the problem in the shortest time possible.

## Common Reasons Why You Can't Send or Receive Emails in Outlook.com

The first step to resolving any issue is to understand what causes it. Below are some of the common reasons why Outlook.com may not send or receive emails:

1. **Problems in the Internet Connection**: It may lead to a poor or no internet connection, which will make Outlook.com not work.

2. **Browser Issues**: Older browsers, cache, and other extension conflicts might cause problems with Outlook.com.

3. **Server Outage**: Microsoft's servers are either down for maintenance or are experiencing technical issues.

4. **Full Storage in Mailbox**: New emails cannot be received once the mailbox is full.

5. **Wrong Account Settings**: Incorrect settings in blocked senders or forwarding rules can also be a cause of disruption in the delivery mechanism of emails.

6. **Security Features**: Suspicious activities, like failed login attempts, may temporarily restrict your account.

7. **Blocked Attachments**: Large files or restricted file types may block emails from being sent.

8. **Third-Party App Conflicts**: Add-ons or linked apps, including mobile email clients, might interfere with synchronization.

9. **Account Compromise**: A hacked account may result in restricted access or altered settings.

10. **Outdated Software**: Using an unsupported browser or operating system can lead to compatibility issues.

## Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

If you’re unable to send or receive emails in Outlook.com, follow these steps to diagnose and fix the issue:

**1. Check Your Internet Connection**

• - Ensure your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network.
• - Check your connection by opening up a different website or using a speed test tool.
• - **Tip**: Restart your router or change your network if it's weak.

**2. Check Microsoft Server Status**

• - Go to the **[Microsoft 365 Service Status](https://status.office.com/)** webpage.
• - See if there is a listed active outage that includes the names "Outlook.com" or "Exchange Online."
• - In case the servers are down, wait for it to be up from Microsoft.

**3. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies**

- **Google Chrome**:

• - Click three-dot menu > **Settings** > **Privacy and Security** > **Clear Browsing Data**.
• - In the settings to clear, check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files," then click **Clear Data**.

- **Microsoft Edge**:

• - Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Clear Browsing Data.
• - **Safari/ Firefox**: Performing similar operations, clear the cached data and restart the browser.

**4. Mailbox Storage Check**

• - Go to Outlook.com and look in the bottom-left corner for an indication of storage.
• - If your mailbox is full:
• -Remove unnecessary emails or empty the **Trash** and **Junk** folders.
• -Offload large attachments using **OneDrive**.

**5. Disable Browser Extensions**

• -Some extensions, for example, ad blockers or VPNs can interfere with Outlook.com
• -Disable all extensions and refresh Outlook.com only for testing.

**6. Email Rules and Blocked Senders Review

- **Blocked Senders**:

• - Go to **Settings (gear icon) > View all Outlook settings > Mail > Junk Email**.
• - Clear the **Blocked senders** list of unintended entries.

**Email Rules**:

• - Go to **Settings > Mail > Rules**.
• - Turn off or delete rules that may be moving messages to another folder or deleting them.

7. Check for Account Restrictions

- **Security Locks**:

• - Navigate to the page of **Microsoft Account Security**
• - Be sure your account isn't locked because it detected suspicious activity.

• - **Password Reset**:
• - If you don't feel quite sure, reset the password now.

8. Test Sending and Receiving

- **Send a Test Email

• - Compose an email to yourself, or close friend. If that doesn't go through, take note of an error message, if one pops up.

**Check Folders**:

• - The missing message may be delivered in **Sent Items**, **Junk** or **Trash** folders.

**9. Update Browser or Switch Devices**

• - Ensure browser is on the latest build or version.
• - Try accessing Outlook.com on a different device such as a smartphone, tablet, or a different computer.

**10. Check Third-Party App Permissions**

• - Go to **[Microsoft Account Permissions](https://account.microsoft.com/privacy/)**.
• - Revoke access for suspicious or unused apps that could be interfering.

**11. Disable Forwarding and Automatic Replies**

• - Go to **Settings** > **Mail** > **Forwarding**.
• -Turn off forwarding if it's ON.
• - Also, turn OFF the Automatic replies(Out of Office) in **Settings** > **Mail** > **Automatic Replies**.

**12. Contact Microsoft Support**

• - If All goes to Pot then go ahead to **[Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/) page**.
• - Reach them via their Virtual Agent or simply Request a Callback for further detailed support.

## Advanced Fixes For issues Which wouldn't go away

**1. Check SMTP/IMAP Settings (In Case of connected Accounts)

• - If you’re using Outlook.com with a third-party email client (e.g., Thunderbird):
• - Ensure the outgoing (SMTP) and incoming (IMAP) server settings are correct:

• - **SMTP**: `smtp-mail.outlook.com` (Port 587 with TLS)
• - **IMAP**: `imap-mail.outlook.com` (Port 993 with SSL)

**2. Inspect Email Headers for Errors**

• - Open faulty email> dot, dot, dot menu option> **Show message details**.
• - Check headers for error codes ("550 5.5.3" signifies a routing error, for instance).

3. Create a New Outlook Profile

• - Using **Windows Mail App**:
• - From **Settings**, select **Manage Accounts** and then **Add Account** for creating a new profile.

4. IP Blacklist Check

• - If you are on a corporate network, your IP might be blocked by Microsoft's spam filters.
• - Contact your IT department or use a different network.

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can't I send emails even though my inbox works?

- This is generally related to a problem with the outgoing server (SMTP), an attachment being blocked, or a full mailbox. Check your **Sent Items** folder and ensure attachments don't violate size/type limits.

**2. How would I know if Outlook.com is down?**

- You can check **[Microsoft 365 Service Status](https://status.office.com/)** or other third-party websites, including **[Downdetector](https://downdetector.com/)**.

**3. Why are my emails going to Junk?

- Outlook.com's spam filter may be overeager. Mark good emails as "Not Junk" and add senders to your Safe Senders list.

**4. How can I expand the storage for Outlook.com?**

- Upgrade to a **Microsoft 365** subscription to increase your storage or manually delete older emails/attachments.

**5. Can I recover a hacked Outlook.com account?

- Yes. Use the **[Microsoft Account Recovery](https://account.live.com/ResetPassword.aspx)** tool and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) afterward.

**6. Why am I getting "Message Undeliverable" errors?**

- The recipient's inbox is full, their server is blocking your email, or you have the wrong address. Check with the recipient and try again.

**7. How do I turn off Outlook.com's clutter filter?

- Go to **Settings** > **Mail** > **Clutter** and uncheck "Separate items identified as clutter."

**8. Why am I unable to attach files to my emails?**

- Files should be under Outlook.com's limit of **20 MB** or 10 MB for non-Office 365 users. Use OneDrive links for larger files.

**9. How can I fix slow performance in Outlook.com?

- Clear your browser cache, disable extensions, or switch to the **Light version** of Outlook.com through the gear icon > **Light version**.

**10. Can I access Outlook.com while offline?**

- Yes. Access the **Offline Mode** option from the gear icon. Note: You must reconnect to create/send/receive new emails.

## Tips to Head Off Future Issues

1. **Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)**: Ensure unauthorized access won't happen.

2. **Regularly Clean Your Inbox**: Avoid reaching storage limits by regularly archiving or deleting old emails.

3. **Monitor Account Activity**: Check the **[Recent Activity](https://account.microsoft.com/security)** page for suspicious logins.

4. **Use Microsoft's Authenticator App**: Simplify secure sign-ins and reduce password-related issues.

Conclusion

There can be several reasons for not being able to send/receive emails in Outlook.com, but most of these reasons can easily be fixed with systematic troubleshooting. First, check your internet connection, browser health, and Microsoft's server status. If problems persist, investigate account settings, security features, and advanced configurations. For ongoing assistance, Microsoft's support team is a valuable resource. By staying proactive—regularly updating your browser, managing storage, and securing your account—you can minimize disruptions and keep your Outlook.com experience smooth and reliable.

Related Article

• How to Fix Microsoft Outlook Has Stopped Working
• Why has Outlook stopped working on my iPhone
• Why is my Outlook not Working on my laptop?
• How do I Fix my Outlook not receiving emails? (updated 2025)